Aspen didn't know what she was looking for when she walked into Mel's diner. She had never been there before. She had never even seen it before. It was kind of on the outskirts of Demaitre. She had climbed into her bug, which had finally been fixed and drove away in hope of a quiet place to write, which was virtually impossible. She hadn't actually come to escape the noise of the city. She had come to escape the noise in her head. The noise and bustle that was in the city was one thing, but to have the added confused thoughts flodding her mind was just too much.

As soon as she walked into the diner she knew she would be spending a lot of time here. The colors were calming and she liked the old-fashion look.

She immediately took a seat near the window. Her pink bag she dropped in the booth, right next to her. It had taken her all day to find this place, because the sun was already going down. It's artistic colors entranced her and for a few minutes she didn't say anything. Not even when the waitress came over to ask her if she wanted anything.

"Miss, exuse me miss, can I get you anything?"

Aspen snapped out of her thoughts and turned to look at the girl.
"Oh, I'm sorry. It's hardly ever you get to see a sunset like this in the middle of the city. What do you have that is caffine free?"

"Umm, milk and sprite, that's about it."

Aspen grimaced. The thought of milk made her want to barf. That stuff sat so heavy in her belly that it was the first thing to go when she felt "morning" sickness come along. Normally, being as late as it was, that'd be fine. But lately, morning sickness wasn't exactly in the morning all the time. She didn't want to chance it.

"Sprite is fine, thanks."

"Alright, I'll be right back with that."

With that the young woman walked away and Aspen turned back to the window. The sun was almost completely out of sight now, the last rays of purple stretched across the sky. Aspen sipped the soda the woman had brought back and pulled a three ring binder out of her bag, as well as a red pen. Then, with her thoughts finally settled, she began to focus on writing her book.

Cole fumbled around the little apartment that he had rented in the slums of the town. He wasn't poor in the least, but he just didn't need much in this life of his. It was hard to see as he awoke and crawled out of bed. He had covered the windows up with cardboard and black plastic bags and it was pitch black at all hours.

He had just awoken from a very strange dream. A dream in which he had met Raen in death and was allowed to do nothing about it. He had been able to only sit there and watch her die in his arms. As he dressed, he decided he'd try and find her tonight.

For some reason, as he wandered the streets, he realized that his mind was connected to hers. He could feel where she was although he could tell that it was miles away. Did the dream mean something? Was she alright? He took a cab to bring him closer to her.

He heaved a sigh of relief as he stepped out of the cab to find her sitting by the window in a cafe. She was alright. Wonderful. He could see that she was busy with something, and he thought maybe he wouldn't desturb her, but he had to make sure everything was fine.

He entered the restaurant, waving away the waitress as she approached him. He wanted to sneak up on her... See what she was up to. Surprise her. See her reaction when she saw him.

He walked up behind her and stepped into the booth behind hers. He kneeled on the seat and looked over her shoulder, inconspicuously at first, and then he bent his neck down and whispered, "And then he said..."

Aspen was completely lost in thought. She didn't hear the chime when Cole walked into the diner. She didn't see him sneak behind her. Normally she would. She was journalist, it was her job to be sneakier than the other.

As she heard his voice, because she startled easily, she let out a squeal that brought attention to her from the entire restuarant, though not many were there. That made it all the worse. She blushed, her cheeks turning a deep red and muttered sorry before turning around to face him, getting on her knees in the booth as well.

"Jerk!" She hit him playfully in the arm, "You scared me to death."

She smiled at him, her eyes glistening with playful anger. Then, abruptly, she threw her arms around his neck giving him a hug, but nervously pulling away. She didn't know what possessed her to do such a thing, but she supposed it was thanks for the other night when he had offered to walk her home.

"Ugh...jerk..." she repeated softer, smirking, "Do you want to sit down with me?"

Cole smiled softly as she reacted the way she did. He hoped he didn't make her lose her train of thought. "Certainly not to death, I hope."

He raised his eyebrows in surprise and delight as she hugged him, but she pulled away before he had a chance to react, whether it be to hug her back or not. He simply smiled at her as she pulled away. "Good to see you too."

"Sit with you? Why would I want to do that?" he replied, getting up from his booth and stepping into hers, sitting down next to her. He was quiet for a moment, sitting up straight with his hands on his knees, looking at her notebook on the table.

His head jerked up as the waitress stopped by again then walked away smiling, as Cole's smile had influenced hers even though he ordered nothing. He had a heartcrushing smile.

He turned back to Raen and stared at her face for a moment, inspecting her, as it were. "How are you?"

Aspen smiled at his response and tugged on the bottom of her black corset, though she didn't know why. The fact that she was pregnant was harder to see, in what she was wearing. The black top hugged her hips, but the color was slimming. She wore a knee length, red skirt, that was longer on one side than the other. Black boots went up to her knees and her nails were painted black. She looked a few years younger than she was.

Cole still looked like his charming self and for some reason that made her blush.

"Smart alleck," she replied, poking him in the stomach as he climbed over the booth. Noticing his gaze went to her notebook, she closed it. She didn't mean to be rude, but she couldn't help it. She never let anyone read her books before she finished them. Not even her editor.

Her gaze went up to meet his, green eyes staring intently into his ocean blue ones. He looked tired.

"I'm doing alright. Is something wrong, Cole? You look as if you just saw a ghost."

She didn't know why she didn't notice it before, but something was bothering him. Her eyebrows creased in a question. Why had he suddenly showed up at the diner? It was like he knew she was there...

"I had a bad dream about you," he said plainly, still staring at her. "I was... Worried." He looked away, color rising into his pallid cheeks. "It doesn't necessarily mean anything... But.. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

He raised his eyebrows, feeling stupid, and scratched at a nitch in the table, sitting forward and resting his elbows on it. "So..." he began after a moment, turning his head to look at her. "What are you writing about?" It was a desperate attempt to change the subject.

Aspen was about to ask him about the dream when he changed the subject. She pouted, but didn't let him see it before she smiled. He seemed embarrassed enough already. He was so cute. She smiled, nothing like she thought he would be when they first met.

"You," she replied, winking, "Well sort of. I'm writing about your 'family.'"

She had almost let the word vampire slip, but caught her tongue, not that it would matter. It was just something she prefered that other people not over hear.

"I have a fiction trilogy on your kind and since my last few months here in Demaitre, I've decided to add to it. Well, start a different story. This one fact potrayed as fiction."

She leaned foward and sipped some of her sprite, then set her elbow on the table and mimicked his posture. Her black hair fell in front of her eyes and she found herself trying to blow it out of her face, amusing herself with the way it always seemed to fall back right in the same place.

After a few moments of this, she realized that Cole was probably watching her and blushed again, taking her free hand and moving that strand out of her eyes.

"Why do you want to know?" she asked, playfully, poking him in the chest this time.

Cole was staring at her, resting his chin in the palm of his hand. He didn't know why, really. He had never been attracted to a woman, or anybody for that matter, but she seemed so delicate and beautiful. He liked it. He enjoyed her company and it made him feel good to know she enjoyed his.

He smiled and chuckled as her hair failed to cooperate, and as she reached up to push it away, he did the same, gently nudging her hand away so he could do it himself. A part of him made him envy Bliss.

"Oh, I dunno," he replied slowly to her question, sitting up only to slouch back in his seat a little bit. "When I saw you in the window you seemed so intent on it... And when I came in, you closed it. Are you hiding suggestive secrets from me, Raen?" he said with a wink and a grin.

Hunger pained his insides and he wanted very much to feed, but he didn't want to leave. Not until she shooed him away. He hoped she never would. He went quiet again, and then, whispering, he leaned toward her as if to tell a secret and said, "Will you let me read it someday?"

Aspen bit down on her bottom lip as he moved the strand of hair away from her face. Her stomach jumped and for a moment she felt as if she couldn't breathe. The gesture made her nervous, in a good way, though she pulled her eyes away from his face, afraid he would be able to read her expression. Was he flirting with her? She had been flirting with him, but that movement suggested more than just friendly flirting. She didn't know how that made her feel and if she should be worried about it.

Her hand, which now sat in her lap, pulled at the hem of her shirt. Her eyes went back up to Cole's. He had such pretty blue eyes...

She shook her head, coming out of a seeming trance. His smile and his eyes seemed to do that to her, though she didn't know if it had to do with the fact that he was a vampire. Probably not, when it came to Bliss' that didn't seem to effect her that much...not unless he was trying.

Bliss...

Aspen closed her eyes, suddenly feeling guilty, remembering what had happened the night after he had found out was she was. The meeting before didn't help her forget, it made her feel even more guilty. Her hand went up to the scar on her neck. The one that hadn't faded...the opposite side of where Danielle bit her.

She shook her head again, trying to chase away the thoughts. Her thoughts had been what had brought her here in the first place. Instead she decided to focus on the here and the now...the man sitting in front of her.

"Oh yes, many a secret I have hidden in my books," she whispered mysteriously. "You are welcome to read my others, though for now, this one is sacred to me. It's a story in progress and when it is finished you will be one of the first people to read it."

His face so close to hers made her stomach jump once more, though she didn't bother to move. She couldn't help but like how close they were and when he spoke to her the hair on her neck tingled. She had to admit, she was attracted to him, but she hardly knew him and...at least for now...her heart still belonged to Bliss.

"Speaking of seeing me in the window...what did you dream about? I don't mean to pry, but it is my job." She leaned back away from him and winked, flashing him a playful smile.

Cole could read her like a book. He took his hand back and set it in his lap, pressing a nervous smile onto his features. “I make you uncomfortable and I apologize. I… You belong to Bliss, I suppose.”

He rested his chin in his palm again, looking out the window, wondering why he was acting the way he did. It reminded him a lot of how he used to like to be affectionate with Corrigan. It was always subtle, but Corrigan didn’t like it and he almost always pushed him away.

He looked at Raen, his eyes sad. He wanted to ask her about Bliss. Why she was still so attached to him, but when he had asked, she said she was alone. He supposed when he had been with Corrigan he had truly been alone.

He let the subject go for now as she was turning it back around on his dream. “You do mean to pry,” he whispered with a smile. “That’s why it’s your job.” He shifted in his seat a little bit, sitting up.

“I… I dreamt that you were hurting… And you called out to me. I came to help you but… It was too late. You were dying and there was nothing I could do…I tried to help you but… You just died there... In my arms and… I woke up terrified that there was something wrong.” He stared at the table as he said this, his brows furrowing as if the dream was still unraveling in his mind.

Aspen's eyes creased in frustration, mostly at herself.
"I belong to no one."

She spoke softly, as was her nature, but her voice was stern, slightly agitated. She was independant and had always liked it that way. Who was he to say she belonged to Bliss?

But her anger quickly faded. She didn't even know why she had gotten so upset in the first place. After all, Cole only said what he saw and she had to admit, her heart was aching with love...

Aspen reached up and tenderly twisted a few locks of his hair in her fingers, her way of apologizing. She had never been good with words, at least outloud. She was the type of person to keep her feelings to herself, so she almost always responded in actions. Not to mention that she was a stubborn as a mule, so stubborn that she often had a hard time apologizing.


"It's just that...well I'm pregnant, I'm in love and I'm very confused. No matter how much I love Bliss, I would give anything to have the father of my baby back, because he is going to be without a father and I'm scared. I don't know how to raise a baby and how the hell am I going to do it alone?"

A tear trickled down her face. Damn pregnancy and it's wild emotions. She'd never cried in front of anyone, not on a normal day.

"I'm sorry..."

She fell silent, her fingers still playing with his hair, as he told her about his dream. And honestly, it scared her. She didn't know why, but he had felt something was wrong. Maybe he was right...maybe his dream was something to worry about.

She tried to hide her fear, though it was hard for her not to be afraid, "I don't know what to say, but as you can see I am fine. You didn't need to waste time in coming down here to see me. Though I'm glad you did."

She gave him a small smile, as if to say thank you.

The touch of her hand made Cole melt. This was twice now that she had approached him in such away and both had been the first sort of affection anyone had ever bestowed upon him. He wanted to do something for her, but he had and she reacted differently than he had expected.

He listened to her words about Bliss and her child's father, and he pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket, handing it to her. "You won't have to be alone, Raen," he whispered, his face soft and sad. "As long as you need me, I'll be here for you."

He didn't want to admit that he had been watching over her the past few nights. He found her all too interesting and, since he hadn't anything better to do, he found he liked to follow her. "I wanted to see you again," he whispered, waving away the thought that he was obligated to do so.

"If anything ever happens to you, I want you to call to me." He stared intently at her face, a wave of seriousness overcoming his features. "I know it may sound strange, but in the world of the undead, a name carries a thousand miles." He reached up and took her hand from his hair, enclosing it in both of his. "Promise me?"

The handkerchief she had handed him, she immediately brought up to her face. Not to wipe away the single tear that had slid down her cheek, but to smell it. She closed her eyes, inhaling. She couldn't help it. Scent was a sensual pleasure and this one made her tingle. It smelled like Cole. She brought it down from her face, but didn't hand it back. Instead, she held it tight in her tiny hands. It was thoughtful and she appreaciated it.

Aspen only nodded as he promised he'd be there for her when she needed him. She only hoped it wasn't an empty promise, though by the look on his face, it didn't seem to be. She only nodded to the next two things he said, unsure of what to say. More so, unsure that if she spoke it would set her off again and she would began to cry.

When he took her hand, she let him, glad for the tender touch. God, how she was confused. Cole being there wasn't helping, but he did make her feel better. He made her feel safe and that was definately a good thing.

"I promise," she answered simply, nodding agreement.

"Now," she said gently pulling her hand from his, "Enough of this. I'm hungry."

She put a smile on her face. That had always been her escape. She didn't want to think about the baby at the moment, or his father, she just wanted to relax and have a good time. She couldn't do that if she was crying.

"Shall I leave you to dinner and your writing for the night? I did drop in on you rather unexpectedly after all." He smiled weakly, hoping she'd let him stay.

He watched her for a moment. He could clearly see she was tired of talking. But he wasn't. He wanted to know everything about her. Hers was the first soul that he had truly cared about in a very, very long time. He didn't want to let that feeling go. "You can keep that handkerchief," he whispered, unsure of what else to say.

Aspen shook her head, "No, I'd like it if you stayed. I just wasn't sure if you had other things to do."

She gave him a smile and winked, "But I am kind of hungry. It would be nice to have the waitress back, sense you scared her off with your charming smile. She's probably back in the kitchen melting because you looked at her."

Aspen was only teasing, though it was true, she thought he was gorgeous.

"And, I already planned on keeping it," she giggled slightly embarrassed, "It was kind of you to give it to me. I want to remember this day forever. You are so amazing. I am glad to have met you."

Aspen looked away for a moment, her gaze going out to the night sky. The stars were out, easier to see way out here and she suddenly had the urge to go for a walk.

"On second thought, forget dinner. Do you want to take a walk with me?"

Cole smiled very brightly, "Thank you. I'm very flattered. I think it goes without saying what I think of you." He loved her cute shyness. It reminded him of his own. He tended to be the quiet respectful type.

At her suggestion of going for a walk, he stepped out of the booth, "Of course, but only after I buy you a piece of pie. Stay here." And then he walked back to the kitchen. He returned moments later carrying a very large piece of chocolate pie. He sat down and slid it over to her, his face bright. "Your favorite, right?"

"I charmed the socks off of the waitress, so it's on the house. Food always tastes better when it's free."

Aspen's eyes creased in a question as he stood up to go. Why was he going to buy her pie? She was hungry, but what if he didn't get the flavor she liked? Not that it mattered, it was thoughtful, but why did he suddenly think of it.

When he came back, she realized and a smile spread across her face.
"You know, that mind-reading thing gets a bit unnerving, but yes, it's my favorite. It doesn't surprise me. The way you made her have a heart attack earlier should have been your clue. That woman would do anything for you. All you have to do is say the word."

She smiled and nudged him playfully, but suddenly became serious. She gave him puppy dog eyes and pouted.

"Do you want to share it with me?"

"If I could taste it, I would," he replied quietly, so only she could hear. He was rather hungry, but not for pie. As he watched her eat it, he tried to remember what it was like to fill his belly up with actual food and nurishment. He had been particularly fond of hotdogs with all the fixings. The thought made him smile a little.

When she finished, and they got up to leave, he tossed a few bills on the table and motioned for her to proceed toward the exit before him. "Dont forget your bad."

She only nodded, feeling bad for eating in front of him. But all the same Aspen ate the pie slowly, tasting every bite. She loved the rich, lucious taste of chocolate. They say chocolate equals love. At least it makes you feel like you are in love because it releases endorphines in your body...same ones as sex.

She giggled to herself and stood up, pulling her bag over her shoulder and adjusting her skirt. She then remembered the notebook and also added it to her bag.

"Alright, cutie pie, let's go." Almost intuitively, she reached for his hand, interlocking her fingers with his...then suddenly, she let go. As if she had been shocked. She didn't mean to hurt his feelings, but she didn't want to hurt Bliss, or herself...

Instead, she looped her arm through his and began to lead him out of the diner. It was really a nice night for a walk.

Cole turned and looked at Raen, a surprised expression on his face. There was nothing wrong with it, but given the circumstances, it amazed him that she had done so. He walked with her out of the restaurant, blushing lightly, not saying a thing.

As they walked down the street, continued to smile to himself. "Why..." but he stopped himself, chuckling. After a few moments, he looked over at her, "I've been dying to ask you about Bliss."

Aspen was silent for a while as they walked, her eyes remained on the sky, watching the stars as the twinkled. A plane flew across the sky and she shuddered. She didn't think she'd ever like flying. She had bad luck with engines. She'd always been afraid she'd curse the plane and it would fall right out of the sky.

She was interrupted from her childish thoughts by the question Cole had asked her.

"What do you mean?"

Her cheeks turned red once more. She had not seen that coming.

Cole smiled calmly at her, "Is it okay if I ask about him?"

They walked by a park, and he led her away into it, stopping at a clearing to sit on a park bench from which one could gaze at the stars, as he could tell she wanted to do.

"I just want to know about you and him... Why you are in love with him but say you are alone when I ask..."

Aspen's gaze didn't meet his as she began to talk about what happened.

"I met Bliss in the same place I met you. Another one of my nightmares had chased me from my home. He looked like an angel, but he had the sadest eyes I ever did see..."

She stopped for a moment, smiling sadly, as she tried to compose her thoughts.

"Instantly, he charmed me. I'd never met anyone like him. We went out to dinner that night and I went home shortly after. A few nights later I was walking the streets and I saw him walking. I followed him. I guess it was the vampire charmed that got me so hooked, and my journalist instincts, as I like to call them."

She wrinkled her nose playfully, a habit of hers, before she continued.

"It was a masquerade, and I was already dressed for it. Little did I know that it was a vampire gathering. He kept me safe as only he could. He cared for me more than anyone ever has, to risk his life for a mortal. I shouldn't have been there and he dropped everything for me. When I found out, I ran. That is why I said I was alone. I left Bliss. I was afraid because I hardly knew him, and already I loved him. The father of my baby left me, and though Bliss promised me he never would, it was hard to trust. I was afraid and so I ran, and never turned back, except for in my thoughts. That night is one I will always remember, because no one had ever been so tender with my feelings. But it seems I always hurt the ones I love, as I'd said before and I didn't want to hurt him. I guess I did by leaving. Then I didn't see him around for a while, until the other night. Now I don't know what to do."

Aspen fell silent, her eyes sad, her eyebrows wrinkled in thought.

"I wish I could learn to trust again, to love fully. I want to be able to love him as he loves me, but I don't know if I ever can. Without trust there is no love. I'm afraid to trust him, though I know I can. I'm afraid to trust anyone."

Even you, she thought to herself. She stopped walking and her eyes went up to meet his. She grabbed his hand.

"I'm sorry. That probably isn't something you wanted to hear, but I think you should know, I've never loved anyone like I love Bliss. It's only fair for you to hear that."

Cole stared back at her with fire in his eyes, interlacing his fingers with her as she took his hand. "No. It is exactly what I wanted to know. And if you love him, then you deserve nothing more than to be with him." He squeezed her hand softly and brought it to his lips, kissing the backs of her fingers softly. "I am no one to stand in the way of true love. I will stand by your side to the very end if you wish me to."

Cole's words made Aspen literally want to melt in his arms. He only added to her confusion, though she couldn't say she minded, though it made things a bit more difficult.

Butterflies danced in her stomach as he brought her hand to his lips. It was a affectionate gesture. She hardly knew him, yet he had promised to stand by her side. She bit down on her bottom lip as she thought. Her green eyes stayed on his and she found her eyes wandering his face, to his soft, cold lips. She shivered at the touch of them and found herself wondering what it would be like to kiss him, but...

She gently tugged her hand, feeling a pang go through her heart as she did so. She didn't want to hurt him, but for now, she couldn't think about him like that. It wasn't fair to Bliss, nor Cole and it certainly wasn't fair to her.

"Thank you," she managed to whipser after a moment's pause.

"Please, just one kiss?" he whispered, his thoughts rolling out of his mouth before he could stop them. He wanted to tell her how much she meant to him even though they had just met. He wanted to hold her forever. He hadn't felt like this for so long. So long that it seemed to explode from him.

He reached up and took the hand that grazed his lips, pullling it away, and, in on swift motion, sweeped her up into his arms, her own around his neck, his around her waist, his lips on hers. It was a single, tender yet eager kiss, the first in his life, yet he swore he knew how. And as their lips parted, he opened his cold blue eyes to see her own green ones, unsure of what to say but, "Thank you."

Aspen didn't comprehend what he said as she turned to keep walking. Not until he pulled her into his arms. Automatically her arms went around his neck and she held him tight as his soft lips met hers. He was so gentle, surprisingly warm, and she almost didn't want it to end.

But like all good things, it did come to an end. He let her go and she stared into his eyes, his full of an emotion she couldn't understand, hers soft and full of confusion.

"Your welcome," she responded simply before tearing her eyes from his and continuing to walk. She didn't know how much longer she could live with this feeling in the pit of her stomach. The one that told her she was forgetting something. She hated the feeling of not-knowing.

She wrapped her arms around her waist, hugging herself, as if trying to keep herself warm, but she was only thinking. So lost in thought that were a herd of elephants to stampede right over them, she probably wouldn't have noticed.

Cole walked along slowly beside her, a triumphant feeling welling in his chest. Yet, she wasn't so enthralled by it. In fact, it seemed to have harmed her in a way. Before long, he began to realize that he had made the wrong choice.

The gentleman in him wanted to apologize, but... For a kiss? On the other hand, he wanted to hold her, kiss her agian and make it all better... Or worse?

He was silent for a long time, until he ceased walking and reached out to gently grab her arm and stop her too. "Raen... I fear I have made things worse. Will you look at me, please?"

Aspen was shocked as she felt his hand on her arm and she gasped. He had ripped her out of her thoughts. She was glad for it.

As soon as their eyes met, Aspen felt herself melt once more. She loved the way he spoke her name, Raen, as if it were the most important word in the world. As if he depended on her looking at him. She bit down on her lip. It was the innocence in him, the fact that he had never been loved, that made her want to love him...

But she could not. She had already lost Bliss once and she didn't want to lose him for good. Who knows what would happen in the furture, but for now she wanted to fix things, not confuse them.

And truly, she couldn't help thinking, what was the point? Both of them were meant to live forever. She was not, she would not, especially not with a child on the way. No matter what she chose, she knew it would cause pain for her and those around her.

"No, you have not made everything worse. You should not feel sorry. You have done nothing. It's just confusion about the baby and everything going on. I was only thinking. Please I do not wish for you to feel as if you have done something wrong, because there is nothing wrong in caring for another. It is I who have confused things."

She fell silent, but didn't pull her gaze from his. She didn't him to feel that way. It would be wrong for her to think that her confusion was his fault, wrong for him as well. She knew that no matter what happened now, things would work out in the end. For the moment, that's all she needed to know.

"But I want to help... Not add to your stress. I want to alleviate the pain you feel. What I did was selfish. I should have thought of what it would mean to you..." He was quiet for a moment.

He stammered for a moment, fighting the urge to ask to hold her. It wouldn't help the matter. He grew silent and then took a step back. "Perhaps I should go..."

God, kill me now, he thought, let me die happy. I'd much rather than live forever in the shadow of a mistake. Is it I that is making the mistake? He turned to walk away, but then he spun on his heel, a fiery passion rising up in him.

"No, I will not leave," he proclaimed, stepping close to her. "Raen, you are the most amazing woman I have ever met," he began quietly. "I love everything about you. The mystery of the young woman that you are. Your complexities. Your simplicities. The way my heart aches when I see you sad. The fact that you love one man, bare the child of another, and stand here with me now, and that I hate it. The fact that you are the only person I have cared about since I last drew breath."

He stopped for a moment, his ranting seemingly taking a lot of out him. His voice lowered a bit as he stared deep into her eyes and whispered, "I have half a mind to just tell you to forget about him and be with me..."

Aspen was about to call him back, to tell him not to go. He alleviated stress just by being there with her. He made her calm, safe. But before she could say anything he had turned back around, passion rising up in him. The shy boy she thought she had met had become suddenly bold. She smiled to see him take charge of the situation. He was man enough to tell her how he felt and she liked that.

But her smile faded as he told her how amazing she was. She shook her head. He didn't know of the people she had betrayed. He didn't know the things she had caused in her parents life. But she did not protest, she let him speak, knowing that nothing she could say would change his mind.

And she was even more appalled at his last statement. His gaze leveled with hers and she fought with herself, telling herself not to turn away, not to break the gaze.

"But you know that I will not..."

Then, she became weak, she let her guard fall and threw her arms around his neck, pulling him close to her.

"I cannot," she whispered softly into his ear, "This is too much, too fast. I need some time to think. Perhaps I can give you a ride home? We can talk some more along the way."

Cole was quiet for a very long time as he held her in his arms. Was there no way he could win? She had to settle things first, he knew but... Then what? If she went back to Bliss? If he broke her heart again?

"If he hurts you again," he whispered angrily, "I will rip out his heart." He buried his face in her hair, the sheer scent of her driving him mad.

"Will you never forget that there is a man who would give his world for you?? Who would even give his eternal life, just for one night in your arms?" As he pulled away ever-so-slightly to look into her eyes, the red tears on his cheeks could be seen. "Do what you must, Raen, but don't you ever forget me."

Aspen's eyes became teary as she shook her head violently as the blood tears crawled down Cole's cheeks.

"Don't you understand, I think I was the one that hurt him and in the end hurt myself? Don't you understand that I will end up hurting you too?" Her voice had risen, frustration set it. She was upset, with herself, not with Cole, nor Bliss.

"You don't want what you think you do. You don't know who I am!"

She knew her words must have stung him, but she couldn't keep them from coming, but they were the truth. He didn't know her, she didn't know him. It didn't mean they couldn't get to know each other, but Aspen wasn't sure if she wanted that. She wasn't sure if she wanted another man in her life, a man that she would surely suck the life out of, or what was left it.

She took a step back away from him, shaking her head once more, before calming and whispering.

"You don't know who I am..."

Then suddenly she bit down hard on her bottom lip, drawing blood. Her hands went around her stomach and she fell to her knees, tears now running freely. She couldn't speak, for fear that she would scream, but all she knew was that something was wrong and she needed to get to the hospital. If not now, then never.

"And you don't know me, but what does it matter? I love every moment that I spend with you. Please, Raen, don't walk away from me," he begged.

But the next thing he knew, she was falling forward and he was there to catch her to soften her fall as she fell to her knees. "What? What is it, Raen? Are you alright?"

He could hear her heart pounding and the babies beating twice as fast. She needed a doctor and fast. He knelt next to her, instructing her and helping her to throw her arm over his shoulder, and he hooked his arm underneath her knees so that he could pick her up.

He carried her toward the street, calling for a taxi, the bright headlights hurting his eyes. He gently slid her into the first taxi he could flag down, hopping in the other door and propping her head up on his lap. "Hospital please," he told the cabby with urgency.

As they took off, he smoothed her hair away from her face, talking gently to her, apologizing over and over. This was his fault somehow, he knew. He hoped and prayed that she wouldn't lose her child and that she'd come out alright. "Keep your eyes open, Raen. Look at me. Squeeze my hand. That's a good girl."

(I'm going to go make a new thread in the hospital thread.)